Fastening for mail-matter and other packages



(No Model.)

M. TOULMIN.

FASTENING FOR MAIL MATTER OR OTHER PACKAGES. No. 394,739. Patented Dec. 18, 1888.

Ja. "'I' WITNESSES f/VVEWZZ'OQ Nv PETERS, PhowLNbographur, Waihmginlu 0.0.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORTON TOULMIN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF TlVO-TI-IIRDS TO MILLS DEAN, OF \VASI-IINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND RICHARD D. LOOKE, OF MACON, GEORGIA.

FASTENING FOR MAIL-MATTER AND OTHER PACKAGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,739, dated December 18, 1888.

Application filed October 1, 1888. Serial No. 287,603. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

3e it known that I, MORTON ToULMIN,a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Fastenings for lllail-lllatter and other Packages; and 1 do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to To which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the lettersand figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. This inventionrelates to improvements in fastening-s for mail-matter and other packages, and has for its object to furnish a cheap and reliable means of fastening the end of a piece of twine, wire, or cord of any description without tying a knot, and which may be quickly unfastened without injury to the cord or twine, and thereby enable the cord or fastening, or both, to be used over and over again, and thus in many instances effect a great saving of material which might otherwise be wasted.

The nature of the irvention consists in two metal plates having rounded edges attached to each other, preferably by a rivet at or near the center of each plate, the lower plate being provided with suitable openings or loops, whereby one end of the cord may be attached thereto. It is preferable to have the upper plate slightly cupped, as this facilitates and 5 expedites the passing of the cord between the two plates, (when in the act of making the fastening.)

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, similar letters indicate similar parts.

Figure 1 is a side elevation and is of full size for securing a package of letters or envelopes, except the cord, which is broken off. This maybe of any desired length for the purpose. Fig. 2 is a plan view and is of the form which after repeated trials I prefer to use. The dotted lines indicate the form of the lower plate, as shown more fully in Fig. 5. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line :0 a: of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the fastener as applied to a package of letters. Fig. 5 is a separate view of the lower plate. Fig. 6 is a plan of the upper plate. Figs. 7 and 8 are views of modifications of the upper plate. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a package of letters or envelopes secured by the fastener. Fig. 10 is a separate view of a washer, through which the rivet passes. Fig. ll is a 'modi lied form of the device.

The letter A indicates the upper plate.

ll is the lower plate, having a cross-piece,

G, and an G/XtGllSlOl'kPlBOG, C, at the end of which is an opening, K, for the passage of the cord l). A loop may take the place of the opening K.

E is the rivet, and F the washer through which it passes, and serves the purpose to keep the two plates farther apart and facilitates the introduction of the cord D between the upper and lower plates.

The cross-piece G (shown in. Fig. 5) prevents the cord from slipping and adds greatly to the holding power of the device.

The cross-piece G allows the upper and lower plates to spring slightly apart when the cord D is wrapped between them, and the openings on each side of the cross-piece permit the cord D to become crowded therein, so that the edges of the cross-piece bear against the cord and prevent its slipping. It maybe 8o 011 aline with the extension O or at any angle thereto.

The extension 0 serves two purposes: to keep the plate B in the right direction and to furnish a means of holding the,plate by placing the thumb thereon during the act of making the fastening. The length of the extension 0 should be such as to allow sufficient space between the thumb and the plate A to readily pass the cord between the upper and 0 lower plates and around them a sufficient number of times to make the fastening secure.

In Fig. 11 I have shown a modified form of the device as applied to a garter. ith slight modifications it can be used for many useful purposes, such as to secure boxes or bags for the reception of samples to go through the mails. As there are no sharp points or corners to this device to injure mail matter, and as it permits the opening and closing of such we packagesby the post ottice officials with quickness and certainty, it meets with all the requirements of the law on these subjects. I prefer thin sheet metal as a material for these plates, but castings may be used to ad vantage in some cases.

I do not confine myself to the exact t'orms illustrated in the drawings, as others may be used without departing from my invention.

It will be observul that the space between the two plates is graduz'llly contracted toward the center.

Havin deseribed my invention, what I desire to secure by Letti s Patent and claim is 1. In a package-fastener, the combination of an upper plate slightly cupped, of a lower plate having a cross-piece, and an extension having an opening in. its outer end, the said plates being attached to each other by a rivet and separated by a washer, with a cord attached to said extei'ision, as herein described.

In a package-fastener, the plate A, having a cross-piece, G, an extension-pieee, provided with an opening, K, at the outer end thereof, and a (-ord, l), secured thereto, in eombination with a plate, ll, a rivet, E, and washer F, substantially as herein described. In testimonywhereolf Ialtix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MORTON 'IOU LMIN.

\V i tn esses:

Jive. 'l. Mimoox, LoU1s 'I'YUNGAN. 

